Dehydrator for refrigerating systems



Sept 2l, 1948. c. c. BRINKOETER 2,449,538

' I DEHYDRATOR FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Filed Nov. 27, 1944 4 sheets-sheet 1 lDRY Lmurn To l l EVAPoHAToR IN 4 HEFHIGERATOR j, o

SNAP ACTION TWO TEMPERATURE VALVE l 30 32 38 #M0 25A,

SUCTIQTNO LINE COMPHESSOT WATER 4 SEPARATION `ururr 'H' suenan; INLET FROM HEFmaEn/won con.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 all 44 c. c. BRxNKoErE-R DEHYDRATOR FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Bijl..

Sepe.21,1948.

Filed Nov. 27, 1944 Sept. 2 1948.

Filed Nov. 27, 1944 C. C. BRINKOETER DEHYDRATOR FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS 4 Sneaks-Sheet 3 Sept., 2l, 1948. c. c. BRINKOETER I 2,4491688A v DEHYDRATOR FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS l Filed Nov. 27, 1944 f 4 SheeftsfSheel; 4

f2 DE HYDHATOH 44 DEHf/nR/vron C. C Bn'n'koeen -CONDENsma UNIT Patented Sept. 21, 1948 DEHYDRATOR FOR RFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Clinton C. Brinkoeter, San Antonio,

t Ed Friedrich, Inc.,

poration of Texas Tex., assigner San Antonio, Tex., a cor- Application November 27, 1944, Serial No. 565,396 s claims. (ci. ca -iis) My invention is a unit which is designed to rei 'move the moisture, commonly found in liquid refrigerant in refrigeration installations, which causes considerable trouble in the sticking of expansion valves and corrosion with some'refrigerants.

Primarily, my invention seeks to provide a unit which may be connected in the refrigerant circuit of a refrigerator for a suilcient time to dehydrate the refrigerant, and may then 'be disconnected and, after removal of' thecondensate water, may then be connectedI in the circuit of another refrigerator to eiect dehydration of the refrigerant therein or re-connected to the first refrigeration circuit.

Another object is to provide a dehydrating unit of a simple, comparatively inexpensive nature which can be easily installed in and disconnected from the refrigerant circuit of a refrigeration System.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention further resides in the novel A details of construction, combination and arrange.-

ment of parts, all of which shall hereinafter be described and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a part central vertical longitudinal section and part side elevation of the dehydrator.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail ii-t of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing how the dehydrator is connectedlln a refrigerating system. I Fig.v 6 is a diagrammatic-view with the dehydrator in its inoperative position, and showing section on the line 3 3 of horizontal section on the line l another way of connecting the dehydrator to the refrigerating system.

In the drawings, in which like numerals and` letters of reference indicate like parts in allthe figures, I represents the outer shell of the case `or cabinet in which the operating-'parts are located.-A An inner shell 2 lis spaced from the outer shell by two walls of suitable insulation' 1` between which an intermediate shell 5 is located. An inner bottom plate 3 and an outer bottom plate 4 have insulation 1, separated by an intermediate plate 6.

' The upper end of the inner shell 2 is connected with the outer shell I by a cover l over the insulation 1. The outer shell I extends above the cover 8 for some distance to provide an upper chamber UC, while the inner shell' 2, bottom plate 3 and cover 8 enclose a lower chamber LC. The chamber UC is closed by a cover consisting of a sheet II of metal or other suitable material carried by an angle ring IIJ which lits into the angle ring 9 to which the shell I is suitably attached.

Coupling members I2, I3 and I4 are secured to the shell I in any suitable way. The coupling members I2 and I3 are adapted to be connected in the line-between the compressor and the evaporator of the refrigerator so the wet liqluid from the compressor will pass into the dehydrator unit where itis dried and then passed as a dry liquid to the evaporator; to the coupling I4 is connected a nipple 43 and a duct 44 having a back-check (one-way opening) valve 46 of any suitable construction, the duct 44 running to the intake side of a snap` action two temperature valve 45 of well known construction, the outlet side of the valve 45 being connectable through a nipple 41 to the suction side of the compressor of the refrigerator. The valve 45 also has'an inlet port 52 to which a connection from the evaporator is adapted to be made. A pipe or duct I5 has its inlet end welded as at' w to the coupling I2 while its outlet end discharges into the outer coil I 5x of a heat interchanger at or near one closed end 3l thereof (see Fig. 3) the other end of the coil I5x is connected to an elbow fitting 30 that is screwed into the cover I 8.

'A T fitting 25 is also threaded into the bover I8 of the water separation unit of the dehydrator. The intake end of the inner coil 'I5.of the heat interchanger is connected to the T fitting 25, as shown inFig. 2, while the outlet end of the coil I5is connected to the coupling member I3.

The water separation unit comprises a vessel l1 having its lower end closed and its upper end fitted hermetically about the cover I 8. .A drain pipe I9 is provided, closed normally by a plug 29, through which the contents of the vessel l1 may 'be withdrawn when desired.

Within the vessel I1 is located the iii-ter and freezing coil of my apparatus. The filter comprises an outer shell 2| and an inner shell 22 spaced apart, the space between the shells 2l and 22 being closed at the ends while the shell 22 is open at the top and communicates with the space between the shell 2| and the wallof the vessel I1 as best shown in Fig. 2. Surrounding the shell 22 and spaced therefrom is a screen 24 and a nlter 2l 'of any approved construction. A duct 26 is se- 39 for the float valve 38a. 1 its .passageprovided with a regulating and shutcured at its upper end to the intake branch of the T fitting and passes through the shell 22 andv above the shell 2I and spaced therefrom, The

shell 2l has radial spacers 5I for the coll 29.

A nipple 32 is screwed into the cover I8 and communicates with a, short suction pipe 34that projects into the cup 'and is spaced from the bottom thereof a suitable distance. A pipe '33 connects the nipple 32 to the coupling member I4.

The cup 35 has an opening in its bottom, surrounded by a 'stand pipe 36, and a center tube 31 o! less height than the stand pipe to form a 'back stop for the float valve proper 38* of thecase 38 of the valve unit. The case 38 `is threaded. through the cover I8 and projects into but is spaced from the stand pipe 36 and has a seat oil? valve '4I (over which is a cap 42) and valve seat 48. The case 3 8 has a nipple 49 to which is coupled one end of a pipe 50 that leads from the third leg of the T 25.

The vessel I1 and shell 22 are filled to a predetermined liquid line with refrigerant 48 in which the larger part of the coil 29 and the bottom of the cup 35 are immersed. An amount-of refrigerant is placed in the coil compartment of the water separation unit s'o'that when the apparatus is connected up to the refrigerator system the temperature of the coil compartment can be brought down to 10 to 15 before valve 4I is opened to let in additional liquid. f

' The application of my invention to a. refrigerating system is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, by reference to which it will be seen that the suction line 55 from the evaporator E to the compressor COM is cut and the ends are con- -i nected respectively to the nipple 41 and 'to port 52 of the valve mechanism 45. l

The .outlet from thereservor RES is connected by a duct 53 to the coupling member I2. The outlet coupling I3l is connected by a duct 54 to the expansion valve EV, which is in turn con` nected to the inlet side of the evaporator E by a duct 56. The compressory COM delivers'the refrigerant via duct 51 to the condenser CON. From the condenser the refrigerant, passes, via duct 58; to the reservoir RES. The Amotor control system 59 is set to keep (in cooperation with valve the temperature in the dehydrator at about 5.

vAssume thedehydrator to `be connected in a refrigeration system as indicated in Fig. 5 and that the system is in operation. Refrigerant will iiow from' the compressor COM via duct 51 through condenser CON, via duct 58 into reservoir RES. From reservoir RES refrigerant will l A iiow via duct 53, to coupling member I2- and into the heat Vinterchanger Via pipe I6. The refrig jerant will enter the outer coil I5x of 'the heat interchanger adjacent 'its closed inlet y end 3i (Fig. 3) and ow through that coil uin the space between the coils I5x and I5 to the other closed or outlet end of the coil where it passes into the elbow fitting su. From elbow fit1-,ing so the re- The case 38 also has freezing coil 29, the lower end of which delivers the liquid into the pipe 21 from which it passes into the shell 2|. The liquid in the shell 2l passes through the filter 23 and the strainer 24 .to the duct 26 and via the duct 26 to the T-iitting A regulated portion -of the liquid passes from the T-iitting 25, via pipe 58. nipple 49, valve 4l, ease 38. valve 38, stand pipe 31 into vessel l1 to cover a substantial portion of the coil 28.- Float valve 38 is so constructed as tolet the liquid pass into pipe 31 until a .predetermined level within vessel I1 is reached whereupon valve 38l closes on seat 39.

The main portion of the .refrigerant passes l from the nipple 25 into the entrant end of coil I5 and through that coil to coupling member I3. From coupling member I3 the liquid passes, via

duct 54, through expansion valve EV to duct 56v of the evaporator E and from the evaporator it .passes via duct 55 and the snap action twotemperature valve 45 back to the compressor.

A suction is created (under control of valve 45) in the upper part ofthe vessel I1 through the connection 34, 33, 43, 44, 46 to valve 45. This evaporation of liquid in vessel l1 and Causes serves to maintain the temperature in vessel I1 .at from' 10'to i5 F. The fluid sucked from vessel I'I, via valve 45, is returned to the compresser via duct 55. In this way any moisture that is inthe wet liquid is frozen before arriving at the filter and strainer and is prevented from entering the line to the refrigerator or to the float valve. After the unit has been left on .op-

eration from forty-eight to seventy-twoy hours the liquid 4will have passedfthrouglr the unit several times and all moisture will have been left inthe strainerl compartment 2l in a frozen state. After the unit is removed from thel installation, ice in vessel 2l will thaw and the water can be drained through outlet I9.

Another way in which the dehydrator may be used to advantage as a service deviceto eiect dehydration of a refrigerating system, the connections being such that the dehydrator can be connected and -disconnected readily without stopping the operation of the refrigerating system, is shown in Fig. 6. Tothat end I may pro- .l vide two-way valves 59, 63 and 64. InFig'. 6 is shown the. connection between the compressor COM and the evaporator E. The connection ini cludes the duct 55 and one, 63, of the valves. a branch 55x connecting the valve 63 with thevalve 45 at 41. Also the duct 68 between the reservoir RES and the-expansion valve EV includes the valves 64 and 59, there being -a branch 6I between the coupling I3 and-valve 59 and a'branch 62 between the valve 64 and the coupling I2.

With the valves 59, 63, 64 set as shown in Fig. 6, thedehydrator is operativelyl disconnected. In

order physically to disconnect the dehydrator one'needs only to uncouple ducts 6I and 62 from the couplings I3'and I4 respectively, and uncouple duct 55x from valve 45.

To physically remove the dehydrator from the system with "the arrangementshown in Fig. 5, pipes 53 and 54 `are disconnected and then coupled together and pipes 55a're disconnected from valve 45 and coupled together, if the refrigerator is to be run without the dehydrator.

However. by using the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 with the valves 59,63 and 64, when the valves are positioned as shown one simply disconnects pipes 6I, 62 and 55ll from the valves 59,

xrigerant liquid passes into the upper end of the I5 64 and 63 respectively. The dehydrator may then be similarly connected in another refrigerator circuit, and'so on for dehydrating a number of refrigerator fluids with theone dehydrator.

With the parts connected as shown inflilg. 6 to render the dehydrator operative, one need only turn valves 59, 64, 63 90'in the directionfof the arrows, thus connecting ducts 60, il via valve 59', ducts 62, 60 via valve 64 and vducts 5P.' ll' via valve 63. Duct Sli* will then'be closed at both ends. l After the dehydration has been completed, valves 51, 58 and 59 are restored to the position of`Fig. 6, whereupon the dehydrator may be disconnected and transferred to another installation without interfering with the continuous operation of the refrigerating system.

Any oil which may be trapped in the vessel l1 and the water from melted ice that forms in veslsel 2| may be removed. when the dehydrator is inoperative, through drain pipes i9 and 2] respectively. A

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. it is thought that the construction, operation and advantages, of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. What I-claim is: l

1. A dehydrator for refrigerating systems containing a refrigerant in a, refrigerating circuit, said dehydrator including: a casing; a water separation unit in said casing: a heat interchanger in said casing; operative connections between said heat interchanger and said water separation unit,

by virtue ofwhich the refrigerant to be dehydrated is first passed Vthrough one part of said heat interchanger, then through said water separation unit, and then through another part of said heat interchanger; and means whereby said heat interchanger may have its terminals op-4 eratively connected in -the refrigerant circuit of the refrigerating system.

2. A delwdrator for refrigerating systems containing a refrigerant in a refrigerating circuit, said dehydrator including: a casing; a water separation unit in said casing. said water separation unit including a shell, a filter unit within the shell, a. freezing coil surrounding said filter unit and in circuit with a heat interchanger located in said casing; operative connections between said heat interchanger and said water separation unit, by virtue ofwhich, the refrigerant to be dehydrated is first passed through one part of said heat interchanger, then through said water separation unit, and then through another part of said heat interchanger; and means whereby said heat interchanger may, have. its terminals operatively connected in the refrigerant circuit of the refrigerating system.

3. A dehydrator for refrigerating systems containing a refrigerant in a refrigerating circuit, said dehydrator including: a, casing; `e. water sep-f aration unit in said casing; a heat interchanger in said casing; operative connections between said heat interchanger an"d said water separation unit,

' by virtue of which the refrigerant to be dehydrated is first passed through one part of said unit including a shell, a filter unit within the shell, a freezing coil surrounding said filter unity and in circuit with said interchanger, and means heat interchanger, then through said water sepfor lowering' the outside of said casing:

temperature insaid shell below freezing, said last named means including a cup mounted within said shell, means for delivering refrigerant to be dehydrated into said cup.

4. A dehydrator. including a closed casing having itsbottom and its side wall for a predetermined height heat-insulated, `and enclosing a chamber, a portion of which is surrounded by said side wall heat insulation; a water separating unit including a vessel located lwithin the insulated part of said water-freezing instrumentalities in said vessel: a heat interchanger 4located in said chamber outside Vsaid vessel and having its exit end connected with said liquidf-filtering and water-freezing instrumentalities, and having its entrant end adapted to receive refrigerant to bedehydrated; and means for delivering dehydrated refrigerant from 'said liquid-filtering and water-freezing in` strumentalities to the outside of said casing.

\ 5. A dehydrator comprising a` casing; a vessel within said casing and having a cover; a filter unit held within said vessel; a freezing"` coil in said vessel, embracing said lter unit; means spacing said coil from said filter unit; a first fitting on said cover with which fitting the entrant end of saidv coil is joined, the other end of said coil being constructed to deliver liquid into said filter unit; a second fitting on said cover; a duct from said filter unit to said second tting: a heat interchanger in said casing and comprising anouter coil and an innercoil, means to convey refrigerant from outside said casing Vto one end of said outer coil, theother endof said outer coil being connected to said first fitting,V one end of said inner coil being connected to said second fitting, the other end of said inner coil. delivering to the outside of said casing; and means for producing freezing temperatures within said vessel.

6. A dehydrator comprising a casing; a vessel within said casingv and having a-cover: a filter unit held within said vessel; a freezing coil in said vessel; embracing said filter unit; means spacing said coil from said filter unit; a first fitting on said cover with which fitting the entrant end of' said coil is joined, the other end of said coil being constructed to deliver liquid into said filter unit: a second tting on said cover; a duct from said lter unit to said second fitting; a heat interchanger in said casing coil and an inner coil, means to convey refrigerant from outside said casing to one end. of said outer coil, the other end of said outer coil being connected to said first fitting, one end of said inner coil `being connected to said second fitting, the other end oi said inner coil delivering to the and means for producing freezing temperatures within said vessel. saidlast named means including a cup within said vessel, means for conveying a predetermined amount of liquid from said second fitting into said cup. and

means to create a partial vacuum in said cup to evaporate refrigerant and thereby lower the temperature in said vessel for purposes described.

'1. A dehydrator comprising a casing; a vessel within said casing and having a cover; a filter unit held within said vessel; a freezing coil in said vessel, embracing said filter unit; means spacing said coil from said filter unit; a first fitting on said cover with which fitting the entrant end of said coil is joined, the other end of said coil being constructed to deliver liquid into said lter unit; a `second fitting on said cover; a duct from said filter unit to said second fitting; a heat chamber, liquid-filtering and and comprising an outer interchanger iny said casing and comprising an outer coil and an inner coil, means to convey refrigerant from outside said casing to one Aend Aoi said outer coil,- the other end of vsaid outer coil regulating valve communicating with said cup `and with saidsecond tting for passing refrigerantinto said cup, and a suction duct communieating with the interior of said vessel to'eiect vaporization of said refrigerant in said cup.

8. A dehydrator comprising a casing; a vessel within said casing and having a cover; a filter unit held within said vessel; a freezing'coil in said lvessel, embracing said iiiter unit; means spacing said coli from said lter unit; a iirst iitting on said cover with which fitting the entrant end of said coil is joined, the other end of said coil being y constructedto -deliver liquid into said filter unit; a second iittingonsaid cover; a duct from said filter unit to said second iitting;` a heat inter- 25 changer in said casing and comprising an outer .coil and an inner coil, means to vconvey refrigconnected to said iirst iitting. one end oi saidl inner coil being connected to said second iitting.

ananas erant from outside said casing to one end of said outer coil, the other end of said outer coil being the other end of said inner coil delivering to the outside of said casing; and means for producing freezing temperatureswlthin said vessel. said last named means including a cup, a regulating valve communicating with said cup and with said second fitting for passing refrigerant into said cup, and a suction duct communicating with the in- I teriorvof said vessel to effect vaporization'of said 'refrigerant in said cup, said regulating valve also having a iioat-valve controlled outlet.

CLINTON C. BRmKoETEa.

.REFERENCES CITED The following references are `of record inthe le ofv this patent:

v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Datel '1.671804 r Thayer ---i July 17, 192s 1,866,659 Little, Jr.- July 12, 1932 `1,489,641 Johnson Apr. 8, 1924 2,430,692 

